Try tropicals in your garden this spring
When the tomatoes are finally planted, any old daffodil foliage is cut back and the beds are weeded and mulched, it's time to add the final touch of perfection — tropicals that give your porches and patios a little island mystique.
And, since tropicals typically come in basic plastic pots that can be slipped into boldly colored ceramic pots, they can instantly turn any outdoor space into a party place. String a few lights, light some tiki torches and your decor needs nothing but Jimmy Buffet music and some good eats.
If you're really in a generous mood, let each of your guests take a tropical home.
In cold climates, tropicals are plants that are good for one season and one season only, unless you have the patience to try and over-winter them indoors or in a temperate garage.
Too many people take home a tropical hibiscus, thinking they can put it in the ground and enjoy it year after year. Left outdoors, those hibiscus die when the first hard frost occurs October-November, depending on where you live. For temperate climates, Zone 7 and warmer, there are cold-hardy hibiscus with flat, saucer-sized flowers and marijuana-like leaves, while tropical hibiscus have shiny leaves with trumpet-shaped blooms.
If you remove a tropical from its plastic pot and plant it in a decorative container, make sure the pot has ample drainage holes. Use only good potting soil, not garden soil, which is too heavy. Fill the new pot with one-third potting soil. Remove the tropical from its container and tease or loosen any matted, circling roots. Place it in the new pot and fill in with more potting soil. Water thoroughly. If the potting soil settles, add more soil and water again.
Tropicals are heavy feeders, so regular fertilization with a water-soluble food meant for flowering plants, or a time-released granule mixed into the potting soil keeps the plants blooming. Some potting soils have fertilizer already mixed into them, but they are often only good for a few weeks.
During hot summer days, potted plants need daily, sometimes twice daily, watering because the soil dries out quickly.
Here's a glimpse at some of the new sun-loving tropicals you'll find from companies such as Monrovia (www.monrovia.com) and Hines (www.hineshort.com). Monrovia is found at independent garden centers; Hines is available at garden centers and big box stores.
• Mandevilla Bride's Cascade. These summer-long flowering vines come in all colors, including a new white one called Bride's Cascade. The vigorous plant, which grows 15 feet long, needs a strong support system, including a fence, trellis or arbor.• Adenium Kissable Pink, aka desert rose. This carefree plant flowers all summer. Its bonsai-like appearance features twisted stems, oval-shaped leaves and large, bright flowers. When dry and dormant, the plant tolerates temperatures into the mid 40s; it can be brought indoors, kept dry and moved outdoors in spring.• Bougainvillea Bambino. These bougainvilleas reach 4-5 feet tall, and include Lauren with variegated foliage that contrasts nicely with large clusters of flowers spring-fall. Use them in containers and as hedges for real drama.• Bahama Bay Hibiscus. These tropical treats produce endless numbers trumped-shaped blooms, some with ruffles, in orange, red and pink tones. The bright flowers always pop out against dark green foliage that has a nice sheen to it. Remove the old flowers to encourage new ones, and feed frequently. They dislike temperatures below 55 degrees, but can be protected at night and uncovered to bloom again during warm fall days.
